Key case



Feb. 10, 1953 c. A. RlBBlNG 2,627,743

KEY CASE Filed March 22, 1948 CA RL' A. R/BB/NG INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHZE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to key cases. It has to do particularly, although not exclusively, with key cases or receptacles of the pocket or purse type which are preferably formed from metal, plastic, or other suitable material. One of the particular uses for the invention is in connection with the carrying and housing of automobile and garage keys so thatsuch keys may be kept together and bereadily accessible to the user.

Various types of key cases or receptacles have appeared on the market, such as leather cases for this purpose, but many of these known cases have been unsatisfactory for use for one reason or another such, for example, as in the case of leather receptacles, the constant opening and closing of the case has caused the leather or other material to wear, permitting the fastening means to come loose and be rendered ineffective, thus necessitating replacement of the case. Other known key cases or receptacles, because of their particular structure, have failed to keep the keys entirely enclosed when not in use, often permitting said keys to come into contact with other articles in a pocket or purse and scratch or mar such articles. Moreover, other prior art cases of this general nature have been unnecessarily heavy and bulky and for this reason have not met with satisfactory acceptance by the trade.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide an improved key case or receptacle having none of the disadvantages of presently known articles of this general nature,

being formed from relatively light weight though durable material, of simple construction and capable of being produced by mass production methods at relatively low cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved key case wherein the keys may be maintained completely enclosed when not in use; another object being to provide an improved case or receptacle which permits ready access to the keys, or any one of them, when desired.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved key holder or receptacle in which the handles or body portions of the keys are located in independent and relativelymovable socket members which form a part of the case.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved key case of the foregoing nature which is formed from metal, plastic, or other suitable material, capable of receiving a high polish and thus presenting a smooth and preferably streamlined exterior.

A further object of the'invention is to provide an improved y ca e. o r ce tac e ha inameaus for. pp ti a p urality. of k ys p n a common supportingmedium, and one inwhichthe g or body portion isin the nature of a shell having ample'openings .formed therein to permit. the, keys to be swung .irom their enclosed pqsition to their position of use, and having separate closure meansor memberswhich cooperate withone ranotherto completelyclQSe theaccess opening.

h foregoing a d ther-ob e ts an ed am tages of the present inventionwill beapparent from the following description and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming .a partof this specification, wherein like --reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views. 1

In said drawings:

Fig. -1 is asideelevational view ofcne formv of improved key case embodying the present in.- vention.

Fig. 21s a vertical transverserseotional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line ,2 2-of:Fig. 1, looking-in the directionof-the arrows.

Figrfiis an exploded-view of the keyoase shown inFigs. Land 2.

Fig. 4=isa-modified form of key case embodying the present invention andshowing somewhat different closuremeans.

Fig. -5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional :view of a further'modified-iormof key case embodying the present-invention shown-in closed condition; and

Fig.6 is a view similaretoFig-Sbut showing one of the closure membersfor-the case in open position,with two of the'keys projecting outwardly iromthe case.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to 'be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, :since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or-carried outin various-ways. It-is to be understood also that the phraseology or terminology-employed 'herein 'is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention herein claimed beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Referring now particularly ,to that form of the P e n n n hown Fig lamp .of th dra ing, th k y ca e-p receptacle of the prese t orm comprises away-portion. ca i m housing, shown as a whole at II) which, as shown, comprises side walls II and I2, a top wall I3, a rear closed end wall I4, an open front end, indicated at I5, and an open bottom, indicated at I8. Along their inner lower edges, the side walls II and I2 are provided with longitudinal grooves or trackways, one such being shown at I1 in Fig. 3 and both such grooves being shown at I1, II in Fig. 2. The bottom opening IS in the casing or housing is preferably closed in accordance with the present form of the invention, by a slidable closure member or plate l8. The side edges of the closure member l8 have longitudinally extending tongues or proiections I9 which are adapted to fit into and slide in the grooves or trackways I1. The lower edge of the rear end wall I4 is preferably undercut at 28, see particularly Fig. 3. to be engaged by an upward projection 2| on the slide member I8 to prevent its being removed rearwardly from the substantially shell-like housing or casing III. The undercut portion 20 also serves as a releasable stop means for a bulge or upward enlargement 22 formed on the u per surface of the slidable closure member I8. this being provided for the purpose of preventing the slide member from being accidentally opened.

The front end opening I of the casing is preferably closed by a plurality or series (three being shown) of preferably metallic socket members or flan ed discs 23, 24 and 25, each having in its peripheral flange a cut-out portion or notch 23a, 24a and 25a. respectively. The socket members are also provided with central openings or holes 23b, 24b, and 25b, respectively.

The side walls II and I2 of the ca ing in the vicinity of the front end opening I5 are provided with aligned openings or apertures 26 to receive and support a key-supporting device com prising, as shown. an internally threaded sleeve 21 and a threaded stud or bolt 28, which parts are adapted to be telescoped, see particularly Fig. 2.

The head of the stud or screw 28 is preferably provided with a screw driver slot to permit the parts to be tightened together to prevent accidental loosening. It is to be understood that the socket members 23, 24 and 25 receive individual keys and serve as separate means for housing the handle or body portions of said keys.

As is well known. keys of the Yale type, as illustrated generally at K in the drawings, have their handle or body portions provided with a hole or opening. The keys are preferably placed in the sockets with the holes in the keys in registry with the holes in the sockets. The several sockets and keys are then placed in the end opening or space I5, the sleeve 21 inserted through the aligned holes or openings and the screw 28 threaded into the sleeve until the parts assume the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood that when the slide or closure member I8 is in open. position, as seen in broken lines in Fig. 1. exposed keys K may be swung in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1, about the key support 21, 28 through the bottom opening I6 of the casing until they are enclosed entirely within the body or housing I0. As the keys are moved into position, the sockets will also be moved and the latter, as a group, it will be understood, serve as the closure for the opening I5 at the forward or larger end of the holder or key case III. After the keys have been moved or shifted into their positions within the casing, the closure member or slide I8 will be shifted from its broken-line position to its full-line position in Fig. '1. Thereafter, by moving or sliding the closure member I8 to its open position, the desired key within the case may be swung clockwise from its inside or outof-use position to an exposed position of use. The slide member I8 is again shifted to its closed position to retain the other keys in their proper enclosed condition.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4 of the drawings, there is shown in this figure a modified form of the present invention which resembles the first form in all respects except that in lieu of the slidable closure plate or member I8, the casing III? of the present form is provided with a swinging closure plate or member H8. This closure plate, as shown, carries a pin H9 at its rear end which is preferably journalled in suitable openings in the side walls I II and H2 so as to permit the closure plate to be swung from its full line and closed position to its open position, as shown in broken lines, to permit the keys to either be swung into position within the case or a desired key to be swung from its position within the case to a projected position of use. The longitudinal side edges of-the plate H8 are preferably provided with outward projections HBa, one such being shown, which will serve as friction means to engage suitable notches, one such being shown at H81), in the side walls III and H2 to prevent the accidental opening of the closure member H8.

It will be understood that in connection with the form of the present invention shown in Fig. 4, the front open end of the casing H0 wil1 be provided with a series or plurality of individual key socket members or holders such as those shown at 23, 24 and 25 in the preceding form of the invention.

In connection with the forms of both Figs. 1 and 4, if desired, the side walls of the casing in each instance may be provided with a series of ribs R which serve to prevent the case from slipping out of the hand in use. This may be important particularly when the case is formed from a highly polished metal or from smooth plastic or other suitable material.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings, there is shown a further modified form of key case embodying the present invention. In this form, the key case comprises a casing 2H1 having a rear closed end wall 214, an open bottom preferably closed by a slidable closure plate 218 and an open front end preferably closed by a relatively thin and flexible slidable closure member or strip 230. The side walls (one only of which is shown) of the casing or housing of the present form are provided with grooves or trackways 2 I? which preferably extend throughout the length of the side walls from the rear end wall 2 I4 to the point 23I of the top wall 2I3, see Fig. 5. This permits the thin and flexible closure plate or strip 230 having an enlargement 238a at its forward end to permit manipulation of it and to serve as a stop, to be slid or moved from its closed position, as seen in Fig. 5, to its open position as seen in Fig. 6. The slide.- ble closure plate 218 in the present form is preferably the same as the closure member I8 of the form of Fig. 1 and when in its closed position as seen in Fig. 5, cooperates with the slidable closure member 230 to form a plate closure for the front and bottom openings of the housing to close the housing, completely concealing the keys K shown therein. In the present form of the invention, the slidable closure member 230 supplants the socket members 23, 24 and 25, there being provided merely a key-supporting medium, such as sleeve I21 and threaded member I28 which are telescoped to receive the eyes in the handle portions or bodies of the keys K.

It will be understood that to use one of the keys in the case of Fig. 5, the slidable closure member 2l8 is first moved rearwardly, whereupon the flexible and slidable closure member 230 is shifted from its closed to its open position, whereupon a key is swung about its support to a position of use, such as is indicated by the keys K projecting outwardly from the casing in Fig. 6. After the desired key has been moved to its position of use, the slidable closure member 218 is again returned to its closed position (see Fig. 6) to thus prevent the enclosed or unused keys from becoming exposed outside the key case.

It is to be understood that the key case of the various forms embodying the present invention may be formed from any suitable plastic, such as Tenite or from any suitable metal such, for example, as aluminum, thin gauge steel which may be nickel or chromium plated, or from some fiber composition material, or the like. In lieu of the two-part key support shown at 21, 28 and I21, I28, a single or one-piece supporting shaft or rod may be used.

In the event the key case of Figs. 5 and 6 is made from sheet steel or aluminum, the casing portion thereof and the inflexible slidable closure member 2 l 8 would be made from a metal of somewhat heavier gauge than the metal which forms the slidable and flexible closure member or means 238. The metal from which this member is formed is preferably sufficiently flexible to permit it to be shifted in its guideways from closed to open position and vice versa, and yet is of sufiicient stiifness to maintain its shape.

In any of the forms of the invention, the casing portion proper may be formed from one kind of material and the closure member or closure members from a different material. For example, the casing portion or body may be formed from plastic and the closure member or closure members, as the case may be, from metal of a desired kind.

The closure members I8, I I8 or 2 I8, may, if desired, have their top or inner surfaces recessed and undercut to receive and support identification cards or strips, with the name, address and teleplhone number of the owner, see C in Figs. 3 and Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A key case for a plurality of keys, comprising a housing of elongated hollow form, said housing being of greater height at one end than at its other end and having a bottom opening extending between said ends, a removable key-supporting member arranged at the larger end and supported by the side walls of the easing permitting one or a plurality of keys to be swung from within the casing through the easing opening to the exterior thereof, means within the housing and rotatable on the key-supporting member for receiving the handle portion of an individual key, and a movable closure member for said opening.

2. A key case according to claim 1, wherein the closure member is a slidable plate.

3. A key case according to claim 1, wherein the closure member is swingable into and out of position to close the opening in the case.

4. A key case comprising a casing having side walls, an end wall and a partial top wall said casing being open at its opposite end and hav-.

ing an open bottom, removable key-supporting means disposed adjacent the open end of the casing and supported by the opposed side walls thereof, a plurality of socket members for receiving the handle portions of a plurality of keys mounted upon the key-supporting means and each providing a socket for an individual key, said socket members also providing movable closure means for the open end of the casing, and separate closure means cooperating with said socket members for closing the bottom opening in the casing.

5. A key case according to claim 4, wherein said separate closure means is a plate slidably cooperating with the side walls of the casing.

6. A key case according to claim 5, wherein friction means is associated with the slidable closure plate to maintain the same in closed position against accidental opening.

7. A key case according to claim 4, wherein said separate closure means is swingably mounted in the casing side walls adjacent the closed end wall thereof. 1

8. A key case according to claim '7, wherein friction means is provided on the swingable closure member to prevent the accidental opening thereof.

9. A key case for a plurality of keys, comprising a housing of elongated hollow form, said housing being of greater height at one end than at its other end and having a bottom opening extending between said ends, a removable keysupporting member arranged at the larger end and supported by the side walls of the casing permitting one or a plurality of keys to be swung from within the casing through the casing opening to the exterior thereof, a movable closure member for said opening, and a plurality of like socket members disposed upon the key-supporting member and providing separate compartments for the handle portions of a plurality of keys, said sockets and said movable closure member cooperating to completely close the casing and conceal the keys therein.

CARL A. RIBBING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,494,242 I-Iill May 13, 1924 1,599,480 Mandelbaum Sept. 14, 1926 1,914,318 Yankovitch June 13, 1933 1,943,844 Slotnick Jan. 16, 1934 2,218,199 Hauton Oct. 15, 1940 2,411,995 Jupin et al Dec. 3, 1946 

